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The Union Budget 2025 has set the stage for a transformative leap in India’s healthcare sector, with a laser focus on cancer care, medical education, and medical tourism to make healthcare more accessible, affordable, and globally competitive.
Raj Gore, CEO of Healthcare Global Enterprises Limited and Lead of the FICCI Cancer Task Force, emphasized the significance of exempting customs duty on 36 essential drugs, including critical cancer medications. He stated, “This will lower treatment costs, making life-saving drugs more accessible to a wider range of patients while alleviating financial burdens on families battling cancer and other severe illnesses.”
A move towards decentralizing cancer care, the government has announced plans to set up 200 day-care cancer centres across district hospitals by FY 2025-26. This initiative is expected to bring much-needed cancer diagnosis and treatment closer to underserved populations in rural and remote areas.
Dr Tarang Gianchandani, CEO of Sir H N Reliance Foundation, described it as a “lifeline for patients who currently travel long distances for treatment. Ensuring timely and quality care near home will drastically improve outcomes.”
With a commitment to addressing India’s shortage of medical professionals, the budget allocates 10,000 additional UG and PG medical seats for the next fiscal year, with a total target of 75,000 new seats over five years.
Dr Vivek Desai, founder & managing director of HOSMAC, welcomed the expansion but cautioned against quality dilution, stating, “While increasing the number of doctors is crucial, maintaining high standards of education through technology-driven learning, such as AI and simulation-based training, will be key.”
The budget’s strategic push for medical tourism through the ‘Heal in India’ initiative has been widely praised. By streamlining visa procedures, improving infrastructure, and partnering with the private sector, India aims to strengthen its position as a global healthcare destination.
According to Dr Jagannath Sahoo, Dean, SPPSPTM, NMIMS Mumbai, “Announcements such as increase in the number of medical college seats, boosters for medical tourism, customs duty exemptions of life savings medications, cancer care expansion and others such as in AB-PM-JAY and PMABHIM are noteworthy initiatives and marks a significant step towards making India a pharma and healthcare powerhouse”.
Anurag Yadav, CEO of Gleneagles Healthcare India, highlighted the initiative’s economic and healthcare benefits, saying, “Medical tourism will not only boost our economy but also bring global recognition to India's advanced healthcare capabilities. Government's focus on promoting medical tourism through the 'Heal in India' initiative, streamlining visa processes, and expanding medical education with increased seat capacity.”
Sonam Garg Sharma, founder of Medical Linkers, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the initiative will attract international patients while allowing them to experience India’s rich cultural heritage. Extending healthcare coverage to gig workers marks an important step towards inclusive healthcare. A Rs. 500 crore allocation for an AI Centre of Excellence will bolster healthcare and diagnostics innovation.
Broadband for primary healthcare centres will improve telemedicine capabilities, ensuring rural patients have access to timely medical consultations.
Malavika Kaura Saxena, CMO of Rusan Pharma, emphasized the need for integrating pain management and palliative care into cancer treatment. She stated, “Scaling up cancer care centres is a transformative step, but it is essential that we also focus on holistic treatment, including pain management.”
Masaharu Morita, founder & programme director at NURA, lauded the government’s recognition of cancer care as a national priority. Morita stated that the budget ensures that cancer patients across all economic strata can access quality care without financial hardship.
Sachidanand Upadhyay, MD of Lord’s Mark Industries Limited, praised the exemption on essential medicines, stating, “This move will make life-saving treatments more affordable, particularly for cancer and rare diseases.”
While industry leaders welcome these initiatives, they also urge the government to ensure effective implementation and sustained investments in critical healthcare areas.
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